counsellor, job

*ABOUT YELLOW BRICK HOUSE:*

Yellow Brick House is a leading provider of life-saving services to women, families and children who have experienced violence and abuse. We offer emergency shelter, individual, group and child counselling, legal support services, and transitional housing support.

*PROFILE:*

The Violence Against Woman (VAW) Counsellor position works directly with those identifying as women who have been exposed to domestic violence. The VAW Counsellor works closely with service users in addressing various needs and supporting them with counselling, resources, and other community support.

*RESPONSIBILITIES:*

*The major responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to: *

*Trauma Counselling, Crises Intervention and Case Management*

• Provide screening, intake, and assessment for service users in order to determine the appropriate programming and/or services.
• Administers service user satisfaction surveys as required.

• Provides longer term counselling using various therapeutic modalities and case planning sensitive to the needs of the service user.
• Provide services from a trauma-informed, integrated feminist, anti-racist, anti-colonial, and anti-oppression framework.

• Educates service users to understand the cycle of violence and the effects of violence on themselves and their children.
• Develops a support plan and a safety plan for women and their dependents who have experienced abuse, based on the principles of person-centered planning, self-determination and choice, and that services provided are reflective of these plans.

• Assist service users affected by domestic violence to assess their situation, develop short- and long-term goals, particularly with reference to their safety; provide information and assistance in naming appropriate strategies; provide referrals to appropriate community resources including but not limited to: parenting support, education upgrades, job training, applying for income, immigration, cultural interpretation, legal process and health and wellness services.
• Acts as a resource to service users in the areas of mental health, harm reduction and the dynamics of gender-based violence.

• Provides crisis intervention and advocacy to service users by telephone, text, virtual, or in-person to resolve emergency problems and crisis situations.
• Coordinate and co-facilitate support groups and drop-ins for service users affected by domestic violence.

• Makes appropriate referrals to agencies within York Region and Metropolitan Toronto (e.g. Ontario Works, Housing, Legal Aid, CAS, Police)

• Promotes a flexible, culturally sensitive, and supportive intervention, focused directly on service users who have experienced domestic violence.
• Presentations as required to educate about YBH and about the effect of violence on women.

• Provide practical needs for service users, such as hygiene products, transportation, clothing, and grocery support.
• Liaises and advocates with community agencies to facilitate an awareness and understanding of victims of gender-based violence and their needs.

• Represent Yellow Brick House on applicable community committees and coalitions.
• Supports students and volunteers as required.

• Other duties as required.

_*Engagement*_

• Communicate fully and openly with supervision; keeping supervisor fully informed of relevant service user and staff member information, at all times.
• Active positive participation in regular team meetings

• Maintain a positive approach and a professional manner at all times.
• Keeps up-to date on issues relating to gender-based violence and evidence-based practices for intervention as it pertains to woman and children.

• Maintain community awareness of Yellow Brick House programs throughout York Region
• Acts as a Brand Ambassador for the Yellow Brick House

• Participates in internal/external committees as required.
• Attends training sessions as required.

• Works in a team environment; pro